Twenty Eighteen is nearly over!

Where has this year gone? This year has been an immense year and as I look back to what seems like a blur, there has been so many memorable moments and memories created personally & professionally.

2018 has been a challenging year, with a growing family, and weddings to shoot, it has helped me grow and adapt to new situations to overcome challenges but also develop my skill to provide the best story telling images for my couples and also document my growing family for our own personal memories.

I have always said I am a storyteller, and my aim is to ensure each wedding for my clients are documented to tell a story of their most special day. When the couples view their wedding photos I want my images to make the relive the emotions, the joy, the happiness, the sadness the energy, the atmosphere and the tears they felt on the day. I am honoured that my couples have entrusted me to capture their wedding day and their most important story. I am so lucky to have met the couples I have this year along with their amazing friends and family who have all been hospitable, loving, warm and welcoming. A BIG thank you to you all!

I like to look back on the weddings I’ve had the pleasure of documenting, reliving the moments and the energy but also seeing how I have developed personally and how I have evolved. I always strive to provide the best for all my couples and go above and beyond for them all. I am greatly appreciative to my couples for their trust in me.

Along with the couples and their friends and family, I am also greatly appreciative for all the awesome suppliers in the industry I have had the pleasure to work alongside with. Having a team of great suppliers who only want the best for their couples help create a memorable celebration for the couple.
A huge thank you to Sanjay, Jai, Meheer, Mickey & Viran for your help and support this year! You guys have been awesome! I cannot wait to work with you guys again!

I also cannot be thankful enough to my family who have always supported me and continue to do so. You all help me strive to better myself and I cannot be grateful enough!

My thank you come to an end, but I would like to thank all my couples from 2018 for a memorable year and I am grateful for you choosing me to be your wedding photographer and allowing me to document your wedding celebrations and trusting me creatively, you have all been amazing!

I am lucky to be an Asian wedding photographer in London & Essex and I cannot wait to see what 2019 brings!

For now, enjoy my favourite highlights of 2018 below and I hope you enjoy the festive period with your loved ones. Eat loads, be merry and I also wish you a Happy New Year! I’ll see you all in 2019!

Follow me on Instagram @sailesh.makwana to see my recent work along with my Facebook page (@saileshmakwanaphotography) and Twitter too! (@saileshmakwana) 🙂

Happy New Year Everyone!

For my first post of 2018, I’d like to wind the clocks back to the beautiful Civil Ceremony & Reception of Tom & Sangita. It was held in the Great Barn at the Headstone Manor Museum.

The Great Barn, once owned by The Archbishop of Canterbury went through a huge restoration project turning this 16th century barn in a gorgeous venue.
Luckily for Tom & Sangita, they were the very first couple to be married in this history location & what a day it was!

The day started out wet and windy, as you would expect it to be in November, but by the time the Ceremony was due to start, the heavens opened and the low winter sun started to shine through.

The Bride’s family member Alesha provided a beautiful set on the Piano and for the entrance of Sangita. The rest of the Ceremony was beautiful which also included two readings from the Groom’s Mother & also the Best Man.

After the Civil Ceremony the Guests went for some Champagne before the Dinner & Reception. The speeches were absolutely hilarious and I could not stop laughing! The Cake was cut and then it was on to the first dance, set with the fairy lights & historic backdrop of the interior of the Barn.

I was honoured to have the opportunity to record the story of Tom & Sangita and at this very picturesque venue. This was just the beginning of the story as a couple of weeks later, their Hindu Wedding Ceremony followed – But I’ll save that for another blog post! 😉

SIDE NOTE: The Civil Ceremony of Tom & Sangita was also mentioned in the local Harrow Times Newspaper. The article can be found by clicking here

A big thank you to the Patel & Funnell families for being so warm & welcoming and a huge thanks to Arta for her help on the day!

I hope you enjoy the first part of Tom & Sangita’s Story below!

We’ve had rain, hailstones, storms and loads of sunshine! On top of it all, some beautiful and amazing couples have got married in the midst of it all! 😉

It’s been a while since my last blog post, but I hope you’ve all been keeping up to date with my work on my Facebook page (www.facebook.com/saileshmakwanaphotography) and my Instagram page (www.instagram.com/sailesh.makwana). – Don’t forget to follow if you’re not already!

I’ve got so many images to share, so I’m going to start off with this blog post of the beautiful Civil Ceremony of Dipesh & Minisha.

Their Ceremony was held back in August at the Brent Civic Centre. Luckily for us, the weather was great and both the bride & groom were glowing & ready albeit a little nervous (but they never told each other!)

The gorgeous couple were joined by their immediate families to witness their Civil Ceremony conducted beautifully by the Registrars. I think Dipesh was so eager, he even said “I DO” even before the Registrar could finish her sentence!

All in all, both Dipesh & Minisha are two lovely people who share a great banter together (and with me!) and I was lucky enough to witness their ceremony and capture some beautiful memories that they will share forever.

A big thank you to both families for making me feel welcome and a part of the family!

Here are some of my favourite images from their Civil Ceremony.

If you’re looking for a photographer for your wedding or special occasion for 2018/2019, please get in touch using the contact me form or by emailing me directly at: info@saileshphotography.com

Don’t forget to following me on Social Media if you’re not already!
Facebook – www.facebook.com/saileshmakwanaphotography
Twitter – www.twitter.com/saileshmakwana
Instagram – www.instagram.com/sailesh.makwana

Both Rav & Indie have an artistic background and during their pre-wedding photoshoot, we took it back to their roots… to an art class room! I got to know the lovely couple during this photoshoot and how they interacted and I could see their passion and love for each other and also common interests such as art, music, fashion etc.

A year later (couple of weeks ago), their wedding day was approaching. These two being the most organised people were well prepared and had wanted for the civil ceremony  to be outdoors, but there was one thing we all feared… the great British weather would strike! This is exactly what happened. The forecasts were showing rain! This meant the plans for the civil ceremony had to be rearranged and held inside. This was helped by Rav purchasing walkie-talkies for the Best Men & Bridesmaids to use to ensure timings were synchronised to perfection on the day.

The rain did pour on the wedding day, however the clouds were starting to break and the sun was peaking out. The Ravengers (Rav’s Best Men) spoke to Amore Banqueting and asked if the civil could be held outside. Leaving the decision until 20 minutes before the guests begin to arrive, the plans was reverted to the original and great organisation by Del & his team along with the Best Men & Bridesmaids, they managed to set up and decorate the area by the canal for the ceremony!

The ceremony was beautifully conducted outside and then the reception began! I realised how crazy (in a good way!) the Bridesmaids & Ravengers (Best Men) were, but I truly found out how insane they were from their speeches and their energy throughout the ceremony! Both speeches were hilarious with some inappropriate and embarrassing pictures along with a Lip Sync Battle! Yes you read it right, a Lip Sync Battle!

I thoroughly enjoyed the day and covering this beautiful story which Indie & Rav have planned to perfection for a year and a half. Thank you to you both for choosing me to capture your special moments on your big day and a big thanks to your groomsmen & bridesmaids along with both families for their great hospitality on the day.

Here’s the story of Rav & Indie:

Venue: Tewin Bury Farm   |   DJ: AK Musik   |   Event Management: Amore Banqueting